Articles written by Lindsay O'Neal

Opelika's Army Reserves 206th Transportation Company: marches in front of Opelika's City Hall June 14, after completing its tour in Iraq. The troop's return evoked much emotion from the family and friends present. Diane Phelps / PHOTO STAFF

Rain could not dampen the joyous welcome-home celebration for Opelika’s troop 206. Anticipation and smiles filled the crowd of families and friends waiting anxiously for the return of the members of Army Reserves 206th Transportation Company in front of Opelika’s City Hall June 14.

Sherry Styve, of Little Rock, Ark., waited for her husband of 10 years alongside her mother-in-law Adell Styve and her 8-year-old daughter Alexandria.

At first, Sherry did not believe her husband’s promise of a June return. “I said I will believe it when I see it,” Sherry said. “You can’t get your hopes up because things change.” Luckily for the Styves, things didn’t change. Troop 206 which was deployed last June with 168 soldiers was returning with 168 soldiers, 70 completed missions and a combined 300,000 miles traveled.

This was Eric Styve’s second tour, and while serving in a recent mission, he received a Bronze Star.

“I am very proud of him,” said Sherry with tears in her eyes. Wearing a red, white and blue tiara, Alexandria waved her flag and clutched an army teddy bear, but her eyes roamed for any sign of her father’s return.

Sherry said Eric’s absence has been the hardest on Alexandria, who was not old enough to remember his first tour. Although Eric was able to talk to his family fairly often, Sherry said the communication was a double-edged sword for Alexandria.

“She could hear him, but she wanted the real thing,” Sherry said. “She wanted real daddy.”

Auburn University’s Center for Actinide Science received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for research in nuclear power and storage of nuclear waste.

Tom Albrecht-Schmitt, Auburn professor and the center director, and his team are researching ways to recycle nuclear waste by new methods of safe storage.

Nuclear reactors account for 22 percent of the United States’ electricity. Many countries like England, Russia and Japan recycle the fuel rod components, but the U.S. uses a one-time process and then stores the highly radioactive waste.

Auburn’s Goodwin Hall recital hall teemed with soul and talented musicians for the 4th Annual Bob Richardson Memorial Jazz Concert June 14.

“Jazz music is a live music, interactive and full of possibilities,” said J. Hatch, German jazz pianist and this year’s featured artist.

This year’s acts also included Jane Drake, jazz vocalist and emcee; Sonny Harris, drummer and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame honoree; Robert Dickson, a jazz bass instructor; and Gary Wheat, a young saxophone player featured on Hatch’s new CD.

Auburn students: can expect a large increase in fall tuition. The state-wide education budget cut has left universities in a tough position and students with student fees bearing most of the burden. Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR

Auburn Students can expect tuition increases as high as 12 percent to compensate for the shortfall of $43 million in state funding to the AU System.

The education budget, recently approved by Alabama state legislature, drastically cut funding.

After hearing talk about people I know being thrashed on the gossip-site JuicyCampus, I regretfully logged on. I could not believe what popped up on my screen.

Racial slurs of all kinds, listings of Auburn’s most promiscuous girls and homophobic messages were among the first detestable messages I reviewed.

Other blogs ushered students to out gay students or list girls who have engaged in interracial relationships. Most of the topics generated conversations centered on race and sex.

Courtney L. Lockhart’s defense attorneys requested the right to amend any of the not-guilty pleas entered, pending the results of a mental evaluation.

Lockhart, 23, pleaded not guilty to all four charges against him at his arraignment, which included three capital murder charges related to the March 4 death of Auburn University freshman Lauren Burk and a robbery charge for a robbery committed at Short Stop in Smiths Station, Lockhart’s hometown.

Lockhart confessed to the abduction, robbery and shooting of Burk, an 18-year-old from Marietta, Ga., after being arrested in Phenix City.

A Lockhart attorney, Jeremy Armstrong, asked Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob A. Walker III to reserve the right to amend any of Lockhart’s four not-guilty plea’s to not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease; Walker agreed.

Joel Collins, Lockhart’s lead defense attorney, requested the mental evaluation. It was requested by state professionals and the defense’s expert at the end of April, but in court, Collins said the evaluation had not been completed. He also requested a gag order, which went into effect a week after the request.

Collins filed court documents that describe Lockhart as “suffering from some mental disease,” saying he “lacks the ability to understand the difference between right and wrong.” The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation will conduct the test.

Doug Hankes, a licensed psychologist and director of Auburn Student Counseling Services, said the tests Lockhart would undergo would be lengthy and comprehensive. It would include an extensive clinical interview and objective tests, as well as projective tests.

Group of bi-partisan former attorneys general comes to convicted Siegelman's defense

Former Gov. Don Siegelman received a recent surge of support from a group of 54 former attorney generals who filed a brief to overturn his 2006 conviction.

The Auburn University Foundation recently received $530,000 from Energen Corporation, a Birmingham-based energy company, to support two scholarship programs for first-generation college students.

“This is our way of stepping up to the plate, regarding education,” said James T. McManus II, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Energen Corporation. “We want to invest in the youth and future of our state.”

Final primaries place Obama as presumptive nominee, Clinton refuses to concede

Sen. Barack Obama became the first African-American to head the ticket of a major political party June 3.

Superdelegate endorsements, combined with delegates won from Tuesday’s primaries, helped push Obama past the 2,118 delegate marker needed to clinch the Democratic nomination.

In his St. Paul, Minn., rally, Obama called the night a “defining moment for our nation.”

“Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” said Obama.

Despite Obama’s 2,155 pledged delegates, Sen. Hillary Clinton refused to concede the race.

In her New York rally, Clinton congratulated Obama for a strong campaign, but did not concede.

Clinton said she would do whatever is in the party’s best interest and take the next few weeks to contemplate and discuss with party leaders on what the next step should be.

Carly Parker, 8, (left): spends time with her family, (from left to right) Scott, Miki and sister Ava, 5, before surgery. Carly’s dad has been a regular donor of blood platelets for years.

Scott Parker had been a regular blood donor for many years and never gave much thought to the significance of his actions. It was merely a chore on his to-do list.

November 21, 2007, 7-yearold Carly Parker and her family walked into the doctor’s office with a presumed chronic sinus infection and runny nose.

After numerous tests, a CT scan revealed a tumor in Carly’s left sinus. The mesenchymial chondrosarcona cancer was eroding bone in Carly’s skull.

In the months following, Carly underwent three painful rounds of chemotherapy.

To help boost Carly’s weakened immune system, her mother, Mickey, injected Carly every night with a shot of red blood cells.

Despite best efforts, the chemotherapy was unsuccessful. The Parkers were disappointed, but not discouraged. Carly endured numerous surgeries to extract the tumor.